Toppling Djokovic at Cincinnati Looks Tough eventhough Milos Raonic has made a fine comeback – let us retrace the journey of both finalists at the Western & Southern Open so far to find out who stands a better chance of winning.
Toppling Djokovic at Cincinnati Looks Tough even though Milos Raonic has made a fine comeback https://t.co/yBU7cbwVas pic.twitter.com/54yDdiRm2M
— risroysalyan (@risroysalyan) August 29, 2020
Milos Raonic at the Western & Southern Open so far
After first gaining widespread approval for a world-beating season in 2016, Milos Raonic hit an injury prone era of types for the next 5 years. However, the Canadian has turned around his fortunes at the 2020 Western & Southern Open, by reaching his fourth Masters 1000 final.
Raonic’s results in the week will give him many confidence going into the 2020 US Open, as he has seemed like his old self. The Canadian put during a flawless performance against World No. 6 Stefanos Tsitsipas within the semifinals, winning the match 7-6, 6-3.
Having been unmatched on serve all week before the quarterfinal stage, Milos Raonic was forced to return from a group and an opportunity down against Filip Krajinovic two days ago. On the opposite hand, the in-form Stefanos Tsitsipas had revenge on his mind before the rematch of the 2020 Australian Open showdown – where Raonic had won comfortably in straight sets.
The Cincinnati semifinal would follow an identical pattern because the pair’s match in Melbourne, with Raonic being invincible on serve and clinical together with his inside-out forehand. within the first set, Tsitsipas held a group point on the Raonic serve, but that was as far because the Greek would come to winning the match.
Raonic opened his shoulders because the match went on while Tsitsipas went into his shell, and therefore the Canadian will now face World No. 1 Novak Djokovic for a maiden Masters 1000 title.
Djokovic at the Western & Southern Open so far
Djokovic had shown worrying signs at the beginning of the tournament, having been bothered by a sore neck in his opener. He started played some inspiring tennis midway through the event though, as he routed Tennys Sangren and Jan-Lennard Struff to maneuver forward.
It was within the semifinals against Roberto Bautista Agut where the Serb was really tested.
The match started off with shaky play from Djokovic, as he was broken twice during a 6-4 first set reverse. While the Spaniard appeared to be redlining his game, Novak Djokovic had a stomach problem and therefore the recurring neck issue throughout the match.
But within the second set, Novak Djokovic’s forehand came to life again as he broke Bautista Agut for a 4-1 lead. Although he gave back that advantage in time , he broke again at 5-4 to require the match to a decider.
Just when it appeared like the Spaniard had lost his momentum, he again began to turn the warmth up. And together with his first serve percentage falling, Djokovic had to resort to some super-clutch second serves to remain within the match.
The Serb eventually capitalized on a loose game from Bautista Agut to serve for the match at 5-4. But that wasn’t the top of it, as Novak Djokovic would be broken twice during a row to offer Bautista Agut the chance to serve out the match.
But whilst Novak Djokovic looked dead and buried, he ended up playing an excellent return game to interrupt Bautista Agut and push the match into a tiebreaker. it had been during this all-or-nothing tiebreaker that Djokovic would run away with the match, winning it by a score of 7-0 to succeed in the Cincinnati final.
Novak Djokovic v Milos Raonic Cincinnati Preview
Novak Djokovic leads Milos Raonic in their head-to-head by a whopping margin of 10-0. The has also comprehensively beaten the previous World No. 3 in two Masters 1000 finals earlier – at Paris-Bercy and Indian Wells.
The pair met two years ago at this very tournament, where a resurgent Djokovic beat Raonic in three sets before he would continue to finish a Golden Set of all the ATP Masters 1000 events.
Raonic last saw the No. 1 seed at the 2020 Australian Open, where he was comprehensively defeated by the eight-time winner of the event in straight sets.
Novak Djokovic v Milos Raonic Cincinnati Prediction
Novak Djokovic will try to inimidate and blow off Milos Raonic in their third Masters 1000 final meeting on Saturday, but the Canadian would be coming into the match with more confidence than ever. Already famous for his imposing serve, the Canadian’s ground game has also been impressive in the week . The way Raonic has returned in the week suggests that he’s playing as if he has nothing to lose.
Djokovic, who is clearly not 100%, will need to get on his toes regardless of what the head-to-head says. The key for the Serb are going to be to open the court, extend the rallies and not feed easy balls to the Raonic forehand.
Perhaps Novak Djokovic’s down-the-line forehand might be the difference maker; it’s an attempt that the planet No. 1 has hit with unreal precision in the week . If he continues doing that, and continues keeping his fitness issues cornered , he’s likely to increase his unbeaten record against Raonic even further.
Prediction: Novak Djokovic to win in three sets.
Sources: Sportskeeda, Twitter
Hashtags: #CincinnatiMasters #Djokovic #CincinnatiOpen #Cincytennis #novak #NoleFam #Cincinatti #?????? #Raonic #WesternandSouthernOpen
Queries: Paandu,Sports Paandu, Novak Djokovic v Milos Raonic Cincinnati Preview, Head-to-Head, Prediction, Novak Djokovic v Milos Raonic Cincinnati Prediction, Novak Djokovic v Milos Raonic Cincinnati Preview, Novak Djokovic v Milos Raonic Head-to-Head, ATP Cincinnati finale, Novak Djokovic v Milos Raonic Cincinnati finale
Like our page on Facebook and subscribe us on Youtube to receive regular updates.
